Pepper Spray on the Menu: Kentucky DoorDasher Arrested After Customers Fall Ill

A Kentucky DoorDash driver is facing felony charges after investigators say she pepper-sprayed a customer’s food — then blamed a spider. The disturbing case came to light December 7 when a man contacted authorities after he and his wife became violently ill shortly after eating a late-night food delivery. Both reported an immediate burning sensation in their mouths, noses, throats, and stomachs, followed by vomiting. What they discovered next came from their own doorbell camera. The incident happened during a delivery to a home in Indiana. Video footage shows the DoorDash driver placing the food just out of view, taking a photo for the app — then pulling a small aerosol can from her keychain and spraying a substance directly toward the food before walking away. Investigators subpoenaed DoorDash records, which identified the driver as Kourtney N. Stevenson. Further investigation confirmed she was living in Kentucky near Paducah. During an initial phone interview, Stevenson admitted she was working for DoorDash while visiting her father in Evansville. She acknowledged using pepper spray but claimed she was only trying to spray a spider she said she saw near the delivery. Detectives weren’t buying it. Investigators noted the overnight low temperature was 35 degrees — conditions in which outdoor spiders are not active or crawling around exposed surfaces. When Stevenson later refused to appear for a scheduled in-person interview, detectives moved forward with an arrest affidavit. A warrant was issued charging her with two counts of Battery Resulting in Moderate Injury, Level 6 felonies, and two counts of Consumer Product Tampering, Level 5 felonies. Authorities in McCracken County, Kentucky, arrested Stevenson and took her into custody. She is being held without bond pending extradition to Indiana. Bond on the warrant has been set at $3,500 cash. Sheriff Noah Robinson said the case highlights a serious breach of trust. “Residents should be able to trust that the food they order for their families is safe,” Robinson said. “When someone violates that trust and endangers others, we will respond with urgency and pursue charges.” Robinson also commended detectives and thanked the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office and Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance in making the arrest.

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